After school ended, Adrien walked me home. A thought that I kept trying to push away kept popping into my mind, making my stomach churn with uncertainty.

"So you know how my father had imprisoned a kwami, right? He finally returned it to Master Fu with apologies! Isn't that great? At least the poor guy doesn't have to suffer anymore," Adrien rambled.

"That's really great, Adrien!" I replied.

We walked in silence for a while longer.

"Adrien?" I finally spoke out once again, knowing he might soon have to face the same fate I would.

"Yes, Marinette?" Adrien replied, moving his gaze to meet me.

"Now that Hawkmoth is... complying to change his ways, what exactly are we going to do with our miraculous?" I asked him, hurting on the inside as I knew Tikki was peacefully sleeping on the inside of my coat.

"I... haven't really thought about that. Now that he's somewhat good, I'm not sure what our purpose our powers would have anymore. Would it make you feel better if we stopped by Master Fu's to ask him what he thinks is best?" Adrien said, offering to take us to Fu's office.

"No!" I waved my hands around frantically, in fear that he might suggest returning our miraculous to him. "I mean, maybe I will just ask my kwami later. She's sleeping at the moment, so I wouldn't want to make any crazy decisions without consulting her first."

"Alrighty, well here's your stop. I'll talk to you later, Princess," Adrien told me as we stopped in front of my bakery. I looked around in the realization that we had already arrived to my destination. With a final wave, he kissed me in the lips and walked away. I waved back at him before he turned around.

With a big awkward Marinette smile plastered on my face, I walked back into my family's bakery.

"How was your day, honey?" My mother asked with a smirk.

"Awesome," I replied, giving her a thumbs-up.

"Well, considering I saw you two out there, I know you probably had a really great day," my mother winked.

Quickly my face heated up and my heart beat quickly. My mom saw the two of us locking lips.

As I was internally dying, my mother pulled out a small white paper gift bag with a pink ribbon tied to the top of the handles.

"I think this would come in handy," she handed the bag to me with a smile, "But next time, please don't throw it into the wall."

I gasped as I began to realize what she meant. I untied the ribbons and pulled a small box out of the bag. Opening the small box, I saw a new, shining phone in there, awaiting its next use.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I giggled, hugging my mother.

"You're welcome, dear," she chuckled, hugging me back.

"I'm going to go up to my room to put all my friends' phone numbers into it!" I told my mom before rushing up into my room.

Tikki flew out of my coat pocket once I closed the trap door. "Wow, Marinette! Your mom got you a new phone!" She giggled.

"Yeah, she did," I smiled, "It's a good thing because I kind of broke my last phone after dramatically reacting to other people's reactions when I told them the truth."

"Speaking of which, I think we're going to need to head back out to find your friends and ask them for their phone numbers!" Tikki reminded me with a laugh, swinging a little in the air as she floated in place beside me.

"Oh, you're right! Maybe a bit later. I actually wanted to ask you something first," I told her as I placed myself down on my desk chair with a sigh.

"What was it you wanted to ask me?" Tikki flew to my desk to sit down.

I swallowed hard and cleared my throat, "You know how Hawkmoth is gone now. Like now that we've defeated him, what... what comes next for Ladybug and Chat Noir? Is it time to..."

As I struggled to find the correct words to describe what I hoped wouldn't happen, Tikki looked up at me with understanding in her big blue eyes.

"Marinette..." the kwami began to say as I looked at her.

"Do I have to give you... back?" I asked.

"Usually when there's a defeated villain, there's a period of time where the heroes aren't needed. It could be weeks or years, but there will be a time when a more difficult villain steps in. As for you, there will never be a time when you'll be a normal civilian again. When the worse villain comes, you'll unlock more of your powers and have more advantages," Tikki explained, sitting in my hands.

Relief came flooding through me, causing the weight of fear to lift from my shoulders. I was so glad I wouldn't have to give Tikki back, even if it meant my duty was far from over. I was relieved that I would continue to be Ladybug. I would continue to be close to Chat Noir. I would get... new powers?

A new curiosity sparked in me at the idea of new advantages and powers.

"What kind of powers and advantages?" I asked my kwami.

"I'm not supposed to tell my holders, but usually it depends on the next villain and what kind of threats they impose. Hawkmoth used poisoned akumas, so your yoyo's power was to purify them of their evil. In your next duty, your yoyo might not even contain that power," Tikki told me.

"I guess we'll have to wait and see," I replied with a smile.

None of this might've even happened if I revealed my identity. I might've not defeated Hawkmoth, become close with Chat Noir, or even had new friends if I hadn't done it.

Revealing my identity was for the best.

Was it the butterflies of excitement or nerves that fluttered in my stomach?